Macomb, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Garret Covington scored 21 points and pulled
down seven rebounds as the Western Illinois Leathernecks came away with a
79-61 win over the South Dakota Coyotes in a Summit League showdown at Western
Hall.

Also scoring in double figures for the Leathernecks (8-11, 2-2 Summit) were
Jabari Sandifer with 13 points and both Michael Ochereobia and Tate Stensgaard
with 10 as the team snapped a two-game slide.

The Coyotes (8-10, 3-1) were led by Tyler Flack with 11 points, while Brandon
Bos and Adam Thoseby both dropped in 10. With the setback South Dakota had a
five-game win streak come to an end.

Western Illinois scored the first points of the contest and never looked back,
shooting 54.2 percent from the floor in the first half, en route to a 33-21
advantage at the break. South Dakota knocked down a total of just eight field
goals through the first 20 minutes of action.

The Leathernecks exploded for an astounding 71.4 percent accuracy from the
field following intermission, not to mention 14-of-16 at the free-throw line
in order to capture the 18-point home win.

WIU survived 15 turnovers, by converting 62.2 percent from the field,
including 7-of-10 behind the 3-point line on the night.